Automobile.



No. 698,909. Patented Apr. 29,, I902.

a. P. nonms.

AUTOMOBILE.

(Application filed Oct. 19, 1900.)

(No Model.)

4 FELE m1 l fifl v n W T NORRIS ram 00.. vnoraurua, WASHINGTON n c NITEDSTATES FFICE.

' ATENT GEORGE P. DORRIS, OF ST. LOUIS MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOST. LOUIS MOTOR CARRIAGE 00., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOIVIOBILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,909, dated April29, 1902.

Application filed October 19, 1900. Serial No. 33,614. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. DORRIS, of the city of St. Louis, State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomobiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart hereof.

This invention relates to automobiles; and it consists of the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown,described, and claimed.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means by which thesprings of the vehicle will be automatically adjusted by themanipulation of the tension-rods used for adjusting the propellingmechanism.

The specific object is to dispense with any strain whatever upon thesprings by the ad justment of the propelling mechanism.

My invention consists of a plurality of vehicle-springs; hinge-blockssecured to the upper side of each spring; hinge-brackets connected tothe hinge-blocks; a frame or bed connected to the hinge-brackets;bearingblocks connected to the lower sides of said springs; axlespivotal] y mounted in said bearing-blocks; reaches connecting theforward bearing-blocks with the corresponding rear bearing-blocks, therebeing hinge-joints in said connections, as required, to frame the axlestogether and to the wagon-bed by hingejoints, so that the axles may bemoved forwardly or backwardly relative to the bed; adjusting-barspivotally connected to the rear axle; a crank-shaft rigidly mounted uponthe frame of the body of the wagon, the forward ends of saidadjusting-bars being connected to the crank-shaft or to the frame andthere being turnbuckles incorporated into said bars, as required, tolengthen or shorten said bars, so that by the operation of saidturnbuckles the axles are moved forwardly or backwardly relative to thewagon-bed; a sprocket-wheel mounted upon the rear axle;

a second sprocket mounted upon the crank-' shaft, a sprocket -cl1ainconnecting said sprocket-wheel, so that the movement of the running-gearbackwardly or forwardly relative to the bed tightens or loosens thesprocketchain.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof my complete invention, shownin position on the frame. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same with thecross-bars removed for clearness. Fig. 3 is a detail end View of one ofthe springs, showing its connection to the frame which is shown insection.

In the construction of the device as shown I provide a plurality ofordinary'vehicle- 6c springs 1, each provided on its upper surface witha hinge-block 2, by which it is hingedly secured to a hinge-bracket 3,formed integral with the frame or body 4:. To the under surface of eachof said springs is a bearing-block 5, arranged to encircle thevehicle-axles 6an'd to support said springs thereon. The rear and frontaxles 6 are connected and held in alinement by reach-bars 7, their endsbeing 'pivotally secured in hinge-joint collars 8, 10- 7o cated uponsaid axles. The springs located upon each of said axles are held inhorizontal alinement by means of cross-bars 9, the ends of which areconnected to the hingeblocks 2. Upon the rear axle I also provide a pairof hinge-joint collars 10, both of which are loosely mounted thereon,and between the ears of said collars are pivotally secured the ends ofthe adjusting-bars 11, which are arranged in pairs to correspond withsaid collars. The ends 12 of the rods 11 are supported by theengine-shaft 13.

It will be observed that each of the adj usting-rods 11 is constructedof two sections, which are connected by a turnbuckle 14, the purpose ofwhich is to lengthen or shorten the same, as desired.

The object of lengthening or shortening the adjusting-rods 11 is toadjust the sprocketchain 15 upon the sprocket-wheels 16, forming a partof the propelling mechanism.

In the drawings the engine andpropelling mechanism have been indicatedby dotted lines, for the reason that the same is not new and I do notdeem it necessary to show it, for 5 the reason that any motive power maybe used for operating the mechanism. The purpose of the arrangement ofthe springs in connection with the axles and body is to allow saidsprings to assume the various positions, too as shown by dotted lines,when the adj ustingrods 11 are lengthened or shortened to compensate theadjustment of the sprocket-chain, thus preventing any strain upon saidsprings which has heretofore been detrimental and caused said springs tobreak. \Vhen the adjusting rod is lengthened to tighten thesprocket-chain 15, the springs will assume the position as shown bydotted lines a, and when the same is shortened the springs will assumethe position as shown by dotted lines I). ('See Fig. l.)

I claim- 1. In a motor-vehicle, a plurality of springs; hinge-blocksfixed to the upper sides of the springs; hinge brackets connected to thehinge-blocks; a frame or bed connected to the hinge-brackets;bearing-blocks connected to the lower sides of the springs; axlesrotatably mounted in said bearing-blocks; reaches connecting the forwardbearing-blocks to the corresponding rear bearing-blocks, said reachesbeing pivotally mounted; hinge-collars mounted upon the rear axle; acrank-shaft mounted upon the frame; turnbuckles adj usting-barsconnecting the hinge-collars of the axle to the crank-shaft or theframe; a sprocketwheel upon the rear axle; a sprocket-wheel upon thecrank-shaft; and a chain connecting the sprocket-wheels so that bymanipulating said buckles, the entire running-gear is moved forwardly orbackwardly, relative to the bed, so that the sprocket-chain is loosenedor tightened, substantially as specified.

2. In a motor-vehicle, a running-gear having the forward axle and rearaxle rigidly connected by hinged reaches; springs pivotally mounted uponsaid axles; hinges extending upwardly from said springs; a wagon-bedconnected to said hinges; a crank-shaft mounted in the frame orwagon-bed; a sprocket-wheel upon said crank shaft; a sprocket wheel uponthe rear axle; a chain connecting said sprocket-wheels; and anadjustable or turnbuckle connection between the running-gear and the bedas required to move the running-gear forwardly or backwardly in a bodyrelative to the bed, so as to tighten or loosen the sprocket-chain,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE P. DORRIS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EICKS, JOHN D. RIPPEY.

